“Now Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it to his brothers, and they hated him even more. He said to them, “Please listen to [the details of] this dream which I have dreamed; we [brothers] were binding sheaves [of grain stalks] in the field, and lo, my sheaf [suddenly] got up and stood upright and remained standing; and behold, your sheaves stood all around my sheaf and bowed down [in respect].”His brothers said to him, “Are you actually going to reign over us? Are you really going to rule and govern us as your subjects?” So they hated him even more for [telling them about] his dreams and for his [arrogant] words. But Joseph dreamed still another dream, and told it to his brothers [as well]. He said, “See here, I have again dreamed a dream, and lo, [this time I saw] eleven stars and the sun and the moon bowed down [in respect] to me!” He told it to his father as well as to his brothers; but his father rebuked him and said to him [in disbelief], “What is [the meaning of] this dream that you have dreamed? Shall I and your mother and your brothers actually come to bow down to the ground [in respect] before you?” Joseph’s brothers were envious and jealous of him, but his father kept the words [of Joseph] in mind [wondering about their meaning].” (Genesis 37:5-11 The Amplified Bible)
By “The Dream,” I am referring to your personal dream, consisting of a specific goal, a stated aspiration, or the desire to accomplish a significant achievement. “The Dream” can also related to what Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. referred to in his famous “I Have a Dream Speech.” In reference to the latter, we must not let the years that have passed dilute our desire to achieve that dream. There is one more important view we can take in regard to “The Dream.” For you see, as you visualize and understand the purpose that God has for you, a purpose that will benefit you, but more important benefit His called-out people; persons like you who have been called out of darkness into the marvelous light, that too is “The Dream.”
This morning be inspired by the story of Joseph. There were many efforts to sidetrack his dream, many attempts to sabotage “The Dream,” and many selfishly motivated actions that tried to stop his dream. Joseph’s story will inspire you to hold on to your dream as a citizen, hold on to your dream in regard to your career, hold on to your dream as a civic activist seeking equity and equality for all, hold on to your dream as a citizen of heaven, and finally, hold on to you dream as a church leader.
Let me encourage you once more by repeating the title above. “Don’t Let Anyone Kill The Dream!” Have a terrific Tuesday filled with tremendous success in living like a dream chaser. Be blessed!
“And when Joseph’s brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him. And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying, “So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father.” And Joseph wept when they spake unto him. And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants. And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.” (Genesis 50:15-20 King James Version)
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King